Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-06-18
CHAPTER NJ.
ON THE BRINK.

11c udA ullple OccupaLlOHs Wueeu, Wn0C De-
tween ostriches, horses, cattle, sheep and
crops, he was rather over than under occu-
pied. Nor was he greatly troubled by the
lack of civilized society, for lie was a man
who read a great deal, and books could be or
dered from Durham and oape Town, while
the weekly mail brought up an ample supply
ofpapers. On Sundays he always read the
political articles in The Saturday Review
aloud to old Silas Croft, who, as he got older,
found that the print tried his eyes, and this
was an attention that tho old gentleman
greatly appreciated. He was q well informed
man, and had, Notwithstanding his long life
spent in a half civilized country, never lost
his hold of affairs or his interest in the wide
and rushing life of the world in one Of whose
side eddies he lived apart. This task of reading
The Saturday Review aloud had formerly
been a part Of Bessie's Sunday service, but
her uncle was very glad to effect all cx-
change. Bessie's mind was not quite in tune
with the profundities Of that journal, and her
attention was apt to wander at the most
pointed passages. And thus it came about,
what between The Saturday Review and
other things, that q very warm and deep at
tachment sprang up betwixt the old man and
his younger partner. John was n very tax
AhS Ai1c1u, especially W tllc oiu, lOT WHO'LL no
was never tired of performing little services.
One OF his favorite sayings was that old peo-
pie should be "let down easy" and he acted
up to 1T. Moreover, there was a quiet jollity
and a bluff honesty about hin which was UNI
doubtedly attractive both to men and women.
But his great recommendation was that he
was a we'll informed, experienced man and a
gentleman in Il country in which both were
y.o ~ EH-nrvy 1r-,,l- <lo Ia , ~
moro and more OH him, and let things pass
moro and more into his hands.
I'm getting old, Mel" he said to him one
night; I'm getting very old; the grass
hopper is becoming a burden to me, and I'll
tell you what it is, my boy laying his hand
aftectionately upon Johns shoulder, II have
SON to me, rs my dear Bessie has been q
daughter"
John looked up into the kindly, handsome
old face, rowned with the fringe of snowy
hair, and ut the two keen eyes set deep in it
beneath the ovcrhanging eyebrows, and
thought OF his old father who was long since
dead; and somehow he was moved and his
own eyes filled with tears.
SAY, Mr.. Croft" he said, taking the old
mans hand, "that l will to the best of my
ability"
"Thank you, my boy, thank you. l don't
like talking much about these things, but as
said, l am getting old, and the Almighty may
require my account any day, and if he does l
rely on you to look after these two girls. 1t
is a wild country this, and one never knows
what may happen in it from day to day, and
they will want it. Sometimes l wish l were
clear of tho place. And now I'm going to
lnl ON, Iu,r;pri,r 70 Tool <l.,-l L..
done my days work i'll the world. Pm get
ting feeble, John, that is the fact of it.n
After that he always called him John.
Of jess they heard but little. She wrote
every week, it is true, and gave an accurate
account of all that was going on at Pretoria
and of her daily doings, but she was one of
those people whose letters tell one absolutely
nothing of themselves and of what is passing
i'll their minds. They might as we'll have
been headed "Our Pretoria Letter. as Bessie
said, disgustedly, after reading three sheets
in Jess curious, upright handwriting. "Once
you lose sight of Jess she went on, "shc
might as well be dead for all you learn about
her. Not that one learns very much when
she is with one" she added, rcflcctivcly.
"She is a peculiar woman said John,
thoughtfully. AT first he had missed her
very much, for, peculiar as she undoubtedly
was, she had touched a new string in him
somewhere, of the existence of which he Ind
not till then been himself aware. And what
is more. it had answered pretty strongly for
some time; but now it was slowly vibrating
itself into silence again, much as a harp does
when the striker takes his fingers from the
strings. Had she STAYED on another week or
SO the effect might have been more enduring.
But although jess had gone AWAY Rpssir
had not. On the contrary, she was ALWAYS
about Him.. surrounding him with that tender
care a woman, however iuyoluntarilv. cou-
not prevent her from lavisbiuy on the man
she loves. Her beauty moved ohout the
place like a beam of light about n garden fo,
she was indeed a lovely woman and no mira
and good as she was lovely. Nor conn .iohn
long remain in Ignorance of her mn rtio,;tv far
him. He was not a vain mau-yery mich
the reverse. indeed-but neither, was la n
fool. And it must he soid that tbnuoh
Bessie never ovcrstepped the hounds of maid.
emily reserve, neither did she take particular
pains to hide her preference. Indeed it was
too strong to permit of her doing SO. Not
that she was animated by the half divine,
soul soaring breath of passion, such as ami
mated her sister-which is u very rare thing,
and, take it altogether, as undesirable and
unsuitable to the ordinary conditions of this
prosaic and work u day life as it is rare-but
she was tenderly and truly in love after the
ordinary young womanly fashion; indeed,
her passion, measured by the every day stand
ard, would have proved to be a deep one.
However this was, she was undoubtedly pre-
pared To make John Mel u faithful and a
loving wife if he chose to ask her to be-
come so.
And as the weeks went on-though, OF
course, he knew nothing of all thiS-it he.
came a very serious question to John whether
he should not ask her. 1t is not good for man